Journey’s End

In this year of the centenary of the outbreak of WW1, Hobart Repertory Theatre Society is to be congratulated for presenting Journey’s End, written by R.C Sherriff, as an observation of the futility of war, rather than as a glorification of war.

In the smallish theatre scene of Hobart, it is often difficult to get enough male actors for plays, but the casting was spot-on, with every actor pulling his weight. Essentially an ensemble piece, Journey’s End was also an excellent vehicle for young actor Zachary Lennon (Stanhope) who shone as the conscientious but disintegrating officer who realised what was ahead – the journey’s end.

The design of set, costumes, lighting and sound all added to the effect of a war time event. In muted shades of khaki, brown and black, with beautiful lighting contrasts indicating the time of day and the action outside, we watched as the days ticked off, in March 1918, towards a tragic end. Designer William Dowd conveyed the claustrophobia of a tight space and the difficulty under which the soldiers worked and lived. The set, a low-ceilinged dugout, was about half of the height of the stage, and behaved beautifully in projecting the actor’s voices. Diction and accents were capably handled throughout, even during quiet times, and it was possible for the audience to catch every speech and nuance of the narrative.

Jeff Keogh (Osborne) John Lenthall (Trotter) and Kim Woodhead (Mason) were team actors as they would have been supportive and loyal army personnel. Director Robert Jarman extracted excellent performances from the balanced cast, highlighting the British class system and the monotony of daily life in the trenches. Many of the participants of this conflict were only babies! Congratulations to Kobi Hayes (Raleigh) the hero worshipper who grew up too quickly and lost his life before it had even begun.

This powerful play is meant to make an audience feel. I felt anger and despair, at the stupidity of war, and admiration for the bravery of the people who endured this one. I also felt admiration for the actors who did such a wonderful job of understanding the clever writing and effectively conveying the full impact of this thought-provoking play.

Merlene Abbott 

Image: Kobi Hayes, Zachary Lennon and Jeff Keogh. Photographer: John King Smith